Podcast
The Interrogator - The Fifth Column
Hosted by The Fifth Column · EN
Confronting social, political & religious dilemmas from ALL sides.
6episodes
Episodes
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OLYMPICS OVER, CAN THERE BE A LASTING LEGACY?
Aug 25, 2012Tap to summarizePoliticians hope for a boost to the economy. Athletes look to a generation inspired to take up sport. Others see a resurgence of patriotism, and a greater confidence in who they are and in what they value. Nonsense, says Peter Hitchens, of the Mail on Sunday. The only legacy is ‘increased debt’. We have been ‘surprised by joy’, says Catherine Pepinster, of The Tablet, and ‘the feeling lingers’. They debate the London Olympics’ legacy – real or imagined? – with Emma Barnett. Image courtesy of somewhereto_ via flickr.com ©© The post OLYMPICS OVER, CAN THERE BE A LASTING LEGACY? appeared first on Things Unseen.
Transcribe →SAME-SEX MARRIAGES: EQUAL RIGHTS OR ‘PURE POLITICS’?
Jun 27, 201200:20:40Tap to summarizePrime Minister David Cameron has committed the government to supporting same-sex marriage. And launched a consultation on the issue. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said it’s ‘when’ not ‘if’ the current law is changed. Not everybody is happy. Predictably, the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, either believing homosexuality itself is a sin, or concerned that a change in the law would drive a wedge between the Church’s canon law – which maintains that marriage is for a man and a woman – and Parliament. Not so predictably, some gays, whose opposition is summed up by Ben Bradshaw, MP, who says gays have already won equal rights with civil partnerships. ‘This is pure politics,’ he adds. That’s the position of Andrew Pierce, himself gay, but vehemently anti. He said so in the Daily Mail, and received a lot of hate mail. Our Interrogator, Emma Barnett, puts him in the ring with Peter Lloyd, former editor of the Pink paper, which bills itself as Britain’s leading gay news website. Listen in to their boxing match, and decide who lands the hardest punches .. Image courtesy of Guillaume Paumier via flickr.com ©© The post SAME-SEX MARRIAGES: EQUAL RIGHTS OR ‘PURE POLITICS’? appeared first on Things Unseen.
Transcribe →ASSISTED DYING: DIGNITY IN DEATH OR AN ANTI-LIFE CULTURE?
Feb 29, 2012Tap to summarize‘The current legal status of assisted dying is inadequate and incoherent…’ The Commission of Assisted Dying wants that status changed so that society allows it. Opponents, who fear the beginning of an anti-life culture and a slippery slope, are vociferous in their condemnation. CTVC ‘s Dispatches (‘Let Our Dad Die’) highlighted the case of Tony Nicklinson who, after a catastrophic stroke, suffered from locked-in syndrome, and who wanted his family to be able to kill him without fear of being charged with murder. Tony has recently died of natural causes. Emma Barnett interrogates Raymond Tallis, of Dignity in Dying, and Brendan O’Neil, Editor of Spiked Online. [Image courtesy of hitthatswitch via flickr.com ©©] The post ASSISTED DYING: DIGNITY IN DEATH OR AN ANTI-LIFE CULTURE? appeared first on Things Unseen.
Transcribe →IMMIGRATION: OPEN HOUSE OR CLOSED DOOR?
Feb 27, 2012Tap to summarizeNet migration into Britain this year reached 250,000. On one side of the Immigration debate, capped levels, earned citizenship, ID cards, and annual migration reports – on the other, open borders, a welcome for all, a call to increase the size of the cake, a celebration of a multi-cultural society…. Emma Barnett interrogates David Goodhart, Director of the independent think-tank Demos, and Ceri Dingle, Director of Worldwrite, an education charity campaigning for global equality – and then lets them loose on each other’s arguments. [Image courtesy of mckibillo via flickr.com ©©] The post IMMIGRATION: OPEN HOUSE OR CLOSED DOOR? appeared first on Things Unseen.
Transcribe →GLOBAL WARMING: DOES IT MATTER?
Dec 15, 201100:18:52Tap to summarizeA climate summit in Durban has ended with agreement to bring down carbon emissions to save the planet. A deadline of 2020 could yet prove a cop-out. But do we need to be so concerned about emissions? Is fear of global warming holding back much-needed development? Emma Barnett interrogates George Monbiot, environmental activist, and Claire Fox, director of the British think-tank, the Institute of Ideas. [Image courtesy of eyeglass view via Flickr.com ©©] The post GLOBAL WARMING: DOES IT MATTER? appeared first on Things Unseen.
Transcribe →ABORTION: HOW MANY IS TOO MANY?
Oct 28, 201100:17:23Tap to summarizeThere are 200,000 abortions every year in the UK. Is that too many? Shouldn’t you be able to ask the question without being labelled a nutter? But, in the end, is it the wrong question? Emma Barnett ‘interrogates’ Suzanne Moore of The Guardian and Dr Peter Saunders of the Christian Medical Fellowship. [Image courtesy of limaoscarjuliet via Flickr.com ©©] The post ABORTION: HOW MANY IS TOO MANY? appeared first on Things Unseen.
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